Social Security Disability/SSI Post-Entitlement Benefits Moderator

DisabilityAdvisor.com is looking for individuals to respond to our readers’ inquiries regarding Social Security Disability and Supplement Security Income benefits post entitlement. If you have knowledge and experience gained by working with the Social Security Administration’s disability benefits programs, and you have a desire to share your knowledge to help people in interpreting the various rules, claims, appeals and payment processes, please fill out this form to be considered.

The questions posted below are similar to the ones we get on a daily basis (including spelling and grammatical errors). To verify your qualifications to respond factually and succinctly, please provide the answers to these test questions as you would give them to our visitors. Your responses will be used only to assess volunteers and will not be posted on our website.

Below are examples of typical questions you will be answering. Please provide your response to each one.
Note: In addition to answering the direct question, include in your answer an explanation of anything else the person needs to know about his or her situation but apparently didn’t know to ask. If there is an action you would recommend, include that as well.

Test Question 1: "The judge approved me for SSDI and SSI. How much back pay will I receive?" (required)

Test Question 2: "I am 57 and have been receiving disability for almost 2 years. My wife is 65 so I need to get her part of my disability. I called SS and they said I have to be at full retirement age (66) in order for her to get part of mine. On the SS website it does not say anything about what age I'm supposed to be. What is the truth about my wife qualifying for part of my disability?" (required)

Test Question 3: "Can I work while getting SSI and get insured for Social Security. I just got approved for SSI, but I have 16 work credits in the past 10 years. My plan is to continue to work part-time and earn those 4 credits to qualify for SSDI. Please confirm that is possible." (required)

Test Question 4: "I just received my hearing from the appeals council in VA they denied my ssd claim, and are agreeing with the judges final decision. Im currently receiving SSI does this mean im gonna lose my SSI also? The judge i had found me disabled enough to receive SSI but not SSD. I do have an attorney." (required)

Test Question 5: "I have heard that dependents may qualify for benefits as well, based off my SSDI. Is that true? We have 3 children and our youngest is legally blind. If that's true, is it something he SSA does automatically, or do we need to request it?" (required)

Test Question 6: "I have been with my job for 17 years, in 2011-2012 I left due to my mothers death out of state. When I returned to the same job I signed back up to insurance as well as short-term disability, and now that I have found that I have cancer I'm being told I don't have short term, yet they have been taking a lot of money out of my pay check bi-weekly for the last 4 years , and I don't have it. The HR department is not giving me answers or any documentation showing that I was denied or cancelled (I know I never did cancel) someone neglected to sign me up now I am left with no income because I work 100% commission. What can I do to go after them and get compensated for not only my money but I can never get short term with the company now because the insurance says I declined it when I returned in 2012, but I didn't . I have all my pay stubs showing what they were taking yet nobody has any paper work showing I declined or was denied. Any advice ?" (required)

Test Question 7: "I am 33 years old and receive SSDI after becoming visually impaired in 2012 due to two chronic illnesses that will remain with me forever. I worked from the time I was 17 until I was 29, I had a lot of hours docked so I get $1,123 a month. I have just enough visual field that I can do small tasks. I was offered a job in my friends shop making min wage. I see that the max is 810 a month and no more than 80 hours a month. I am kind of confused by this. Can you help me figure out how many hours I am allowed to work so I don't lose any of my benefits?" (required)

Test Question 8: "I am 34 years old. I had a disability hearing on 12/1/16. I did have an attorney present. But I still have a few questions. I qualify for SSDI based on my work history. First, how long will it wait to get a decision regarding the hearing. Second, I filed based on several things, the worst being a back injury. I have degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and had a 3 level spinal fusion and dissection in 2010. All of these records were included in my case and I will possibly need surgery again in the near future as things are getting substantially worse. I also have bilateral osteoarthritis in my knees that will require replacement once I'm older. I see all my doctors regularly so all my records were sent and very current and thorough. My primary care physician has said on many occasions that I am unable to work. However, I did not have to see a disability physician at any point, they did not require it. Is there a reason I was not required to see their physicians? Also, the vocational expert said that a hypothetical person with my limitations would not be able to obtain gainful employment. So, with the vocational experts opinion and my medical history, how likely is my case to be approved? I'm anxious waiting, as my husband is supporting my family on one income. Any advice is greatly appreciated." (required)

Test Question 9: "Hi, i have a question, my mother started receive ssdi 3 or so years ago, i was 20 years old soon after she got approved i was called n told i would receive a payment bc of my mother.. They gave me somewhere around 5k n that was last time i ever talk to them. I am 23 now i have been diagnose with Bi-Polar 1, depression , anxiety disorder and severe panic attacks by my therapist n take Zyprexa 4 it, (Ive been seeing her couple months now but have had these disabilities the whole time) I cant hold a job longer then 2weeks or even few hours tbh.. without a massive meltdown, i applied 4 ssdi about 5mos ago while i was still 22 n was denied. Im not sure why, as they gave me a payment 3yrs ago iv only gotten worse.. I was unable 2 file the appeal bc of my sickness, i haven been outside in weeks so my 60d deadline is done.. So i recently call and got an appointment in the local office ..n it seems like i have 2 do another application ... They sent me a application in the mail I mean my point is am i going about getting benefits the wrong way? Should i be filing my own seperate application like i did ?I mean i have no money i get welfare very small check n im exempted from doing a work search for them due to my disability... I thought since they paid me once and my mother still on it i can still get it ssdi or am i too late?" (required)

Test Question 10: "My mother who receives the full amount of SSI is thinking of moving in with me and my family (wife and two kids soon to be a third). Would she lose her SSI check if she does? Also I am 100% va disabled, if I add my mom as one of my depended to increase my VA disability compensation (non tax). Would she lose her SSI check? The compensation check comes to me only and has nothing to do with my mom. Thank you." (required)

Test Question 11: "Hi, I am the payee for my five year old that started receiving SSI. Our landlord passed away and the family will be selling the house we are renting. Can I use the money for rent and security for a new apartment? Also, we will be getting 735 a month for my son, what if the rent for our new place is 900 a month. Can we use the whole 735 towards rent or should we only use some of it to make sure we have money for food and clothes for him? One more thing, please explain the 2,000 in resources income? Are dad and me not supposed to ever have more than combined 2,000 a month, does this include what’s in our son’s bank account every month as well? Thanks for your help." (required)

Test Question 12: "My oldest receives $735 with SSI and my husband makes $2700 monthly. We have one child that doesn't qualify for ssi. And my youngest whom is hearing impaired with a big speech delay. Saturday I received a letter saying a medical decision has already been made for my youngest. But they now need to review income and resources. Should my youngest qualify. My husbands income was at $1900 monthly but since my son's Medicaid didn't cover his hearing aids my husband had to get a second job to buy them. I really want my son to receive SSI so in the near future his hearing aids will get covered. Can my husband keep his second job and will my kids still qualify or does he make too much." (required)